[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6089415,"mediaKeyId","2874280-c17ff9424811a2dc0709f3212fca0122","parentId",2874280,"title","County, city and EMS leaders discuss options as Newcastle seeks larger payment for county ambulance coverage","audioSeconds",1740,"startMs",3730000,"endMs",5470000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874280-c17ff9424811a2dc0709f3212fca0122&start=3730&end=5470","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874280-c17ff9424811a2dc0709f3212fca0122/thumbnail_3730000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089415/Henry-County/Indiana/County-city-and-EMS-leaders-discuss-options-as-Newcastle-seeks-larger-payment-for-county-ambulance-coverage","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089415-ccecd6794f903511eee62ad9a6bf9f02/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141225&Signature=WGq4964pXdHlJESzWZ09~rTE5EY4O1zuKxMYmIpHWvoY1s-VJtzL0Kw0fsgtOV6IoP6av30zcNyZgx24D-kdDkfzlKZwRhcPbwyZkFLkUiUw7DAnzJp9yCaeMvqEzL2-KkbSQIJPCRFY5tSo6w3HfEqDV1kYaROnfcWhagqmtb8377PSmYD9ZCF4vbgUbxIIoU0mrGYdvtv9sUTDdIOAj1hWEe~6jbjU8QjiotRY-le1y1bcoMdEVgBeXU1m6dsurVqSEWa7H3MG3BJAta99f4SLi9Bqe1nl8VWtNOCR4H5Q3Wb6N9-vccuo-ou~0LPdTJoOq11rJQ8J8XFmkn2uZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Henry County IN","date","2025-04-04T14:21:43.657Z","article","A broad discussion about emergency medical services (EMS) ran through the work session as county elected officials, county EMS leaders and Newcastle representatives considered how to preserve 9-1-1 coverage across Henry County while facing rising operating costs.

County EMS lead Steve (representing Newcastle EMS operations in discussion) said Newcastle is certified for advanced life support and that the agency has experienced operational strain; he described a revised county request figure that the council said had at one point been “around 900” (thousand dollars) and later reduced. Steve said Newcastle currently responds to a significant share of county calls and that maintaining countywide ALS coverage is a key concern.

Henry County EMS and other local providers said they will participate in planning but emphasized operational differences between services. Henry County EMS representatives said they have been expanding billing and non-emergency transport work and reported a recent strong month of collections; “We made a hundred and $10,000 … last month,” one county EMS speaker said.

Why it matters: council members said the county cannot absorb a sudden six- or nine-hundred-thousand-dollar increase in an EMS contract without offsetting cuts elsewhere. Shannon and other council members urged a cooperative stakeholder meeting that includes county EMS, Newcastle, Middletown EMS, hospital leaders and commissioners to identify a fiscally and operationally realistic county solution.

Options discussed included: increasing local income tax allocations to EMS (public-safety local income tax), shifting some current county dollars to Henry County EMS if the county opted to operate broader 9-1-1 coverage, exploring cooperative agreements like Middletown’s, or soliciting bids from private ambulance contractors. Participants repeatedly stressed that operational capacity — not only money — drives response times, and that county agencies must not be left out of planning discussions.

Participants asked for a multi-stakeholder meeting to identify the solution that meets statutory obligations and local expectations. Commissioner Susan said she would support convening stakeholders; council members asked staff to prepare fiscal scenarios showing the county cost of alternative arrangements before finalizing 2026 budgets.

Ending: participants agreed to pursue a stakeholder meeting and for commissioners to lead negotiations; county officials said they will model fiscal options and return recommendations to the council as budgeting continues.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Henry County Council Finance Committee 04/0225","oneSentenceSummary","Henry County council members, commissioners and EMS representatives discussed Newcastle’s proposal, cooperative agreements and private-contractor options for countywide 9-1-1 ambulance coverage amid strained budgets.","taxTitle","Henry County, Indiana","taxId",70528,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089421,"Henry County health director warns of large cut to Health First funding; department may reduce staff",396,2354000,2750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874280-c17ff9424811a2dc0709f3212fca0122&start=2354&end=2750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874280-c17ff9424811a2dc0709f3212fca0122/thumbnail_2354000.jpg","/articles/6089421/Henry-County/Indiana/Henry-County-health-director-warns-of-large-cut-to-Health-First-funding-department-may-reduce-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089421-66e9033e0681e8db3ccb26408342b4cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141225&Signature=ktU46PO5JEuXJDjVeMwKvpthZQ6NbK046UrAw~7m8m1~b71HgIJEXjTGLgxXQEw6H4eHdi2HB32H5RIfzmNflzGd0i1nblIY-uGLhwovBkr~wXz-xm2wtzDKS63vMblUwBIwZKK1fDCTByMzxQnz~vJOLgaRT197rXznvg5NsvdaZKtkorMtWN8vIBtFkw9DlRCbZjBDzj55PNL0KioyggrB2-ijnPpi3L-zDWLKa~7lpC7WZIlF--iem0HBt-oj-p09R9c0OBnJNcqoyez4P6LnSpj3nwGNbyJx207TzhjAXCXzzvtENH9FMeRu5E0Xr0cQrgFvXjq8dErB2tcksg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Angela, identified at the meeting as the county health department representative, told the council that a state decision to remove $50 million from an anticipated Health First (HFI) allocation would likely reduce county HFI payments versus 2025 levels.

“Governor Braun has removed 50,000,000 from the hundred and 50,000,000 that we were told that we would be planning our 2026 budget from,” Angela said, describing preliminary statewide allocations. She told the group the change translates to roughly a $500,000 reduction if the $50 million were divided evenly among 95 counties; she cautioned, however, that distribution formulas make the final county impact uncertain and that county-by-county amounts could differ.

Angela gave precise figures for 2025 HFI: “In 2025, we received, $1,067,001.57 and 4¢,” and said the county’s minimum match for that year was $238,004.55 and 75¢. She said her planning assumption for the 2026 budget would be to “shoot for about 550,000 coming from HFI” and to use the minimum required local match for planning.

Angela also described an abrupt change to a smaller immunization grant that affected the health department’s cash flow: she said she received an email stating the remainder of that immunization grant was being rescinded, which initially cut roughly $38,000, then later was revised so a smaller amount (about $7,000) would be pulled and $31,000 remained available to spend.

Why it matters: the health department provides nursing, environmental health fees and other services that the county cannot easily shift to other sources. Angela warned that reduced HFI support will likely force staffing reductions: “I will have I'll lose staff, and and that's just it is what it is.” She said the department’s revenue primarily comes from environmental health fees (birth/death records, food establishment and septic permits) and that nursing generally operates at break-even because it cannot bill insurance effectively.

Council members and staff asked for additional detail about the department’s reserves and spending history to inform the 2026 budget: one council member requested more back-end numbers showing actual expenditures (not just budgets) in comparable counties to explain why some counties appear to hold larger balances. Angela said she would plan conservatively and budget to the minimum HFI match if state action reduces HFI.

Ending: Angela asked that future meeting announcements be better distributed to department heads; council members agreed and the auditor’s office pledged to improve distribution. Angela said the health department will prepare budgets assuming a smaller HFI allocation and focus on the minimum match; she warned that staffing reductions are likely if the cut is realized.","Henry County Health Department director reported a likely reduction in Health First (HFI) funding and a rescinded immunization grant, and outlined how the department may respond in the 2026 budget cycle.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089425,"Henry County leaders weigh shifting road, culvert and bridge funds as three roads remain closed",157,320000,477000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2874280-c17ff9424811a2dc0709f3212fca0122&start=320&end=477","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2874280-c17ff9424811a2dc0709f3212fca0122/thumbnail_320000.jpg","/articles/6089425/Henry-County/Indiana/Henry-County-leaders-weigh-shifting-road-culvert-and-bridge-funds-as-three-roads-remain-closed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089425-e1de431d3972eea3443e4c5f833ceae9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141225&Signature=oORmjL6oXdAvEhf4zsrRBmAN4KbsRV-Qxu5D~gKQvmg7w1Wo4m6PFxcCLaKEYYILbAR~dl7uF2TWV0PE~ZA-1ESmgsVLTay9C~J5jbrFpMblT5XVYhSeI7jhvFENFKpNdOnKDd5TlhWSyNezkljl7Sa7Mo-4n8ccs7Db4j-JhhAFz5evSiGgSMqe2MgXaSAw253LXmhB2xtAo2Uyp3OXAsISvGB8GCBwUaAy7soEEcf2O4ycApMzoVAnQ0fSBnTDomKBTs5qJZBqifFiTIKEdEc4Wzsa-jHJs8DXezb0Ilmz~Bxo6pH~gjVcKAN7c2IbI-wp5xL6QUuSnCNcTLgkkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Henry County officials and staff met in a joint work session to review the county’s transportation budget and short-term options for reopening three roads closed because of failing culverts and small structures.

County council member Chad (role/affiliation noted in meeting) opened the discussion by placing the county general and highway budgets in context and noting the council’s ability to use a reclassification fund. Highway staff member Joe reported that “the 3 culverts, he's getting quotes on” and that suppliers in the state are limited: “Right now, we only know of 2 suppliers in the state of Indiana.”

Why it matters: the three closures are causing immediate access issues for residents and could force the county to shift planned paving dollars to emergency culvert replacement. Joe described a likely material and scheduling lag: one supplier told staff they were “6 to 8 weeks out on rebar alone,” and once materials arrive the precast concrete boxes must be made, cured and hauled into place.

Officials reviewed potential funding sources. The council confirmed a reclassification fund balance in the general fund and a “sick pay compensation” line of about $135,000 in the council budget. Highway staff and council members discussed moving money within highway-restricted accounts: one option Braden (highway staff) reportedly is considering would shift “maybe a half a million dollars out of road paving” toward culvert work. A restricted “Cume Bridge” (bridge) fund was cited repeatedly; council members noted a current balance in that account of approximately $464,000, though that balance may already reflect recent bridge work and unbilled projects.

Officials also discussed federal and state aid possibilities. Joe said he has applied for federal Community Crossings and other federal bridge programs; a project funded earlier this year — bridge 162 — is “in design.” The county has been awarded $1.5 million from the Community Crossings program for chip seal work; staff estimated total chip-seal costs near $2.2 million and said the state award would cover roughly $1.5 million of the construction if bids come in near estimates. Participants warned that state-level changes to Community Crossings funding could affect future planning.

Costs and timing: staff estimated material costs for each culvert at under $50,000 for the box material alone, with total repairs ranging from “tens of thousands” up to “hundreds of thousands” per site depending on scope. Joe said the earliest culvert installations would likely arrive in June or July if ordered promptly, but that scheduling, delivery and installation could push work later into the season.

Staff and officials emphasized the distinction between available cash and project timing: “It’s not because we don't have the money. It's because we're waiting on culverts,” Joe said, summarizing the operational constraint.

Next steps: county staff agreed to seek second supplier quotes, confirm which restricted highway accounts can legally be used for the culvert work, and present options to the full council. Commissioners and council members said they prefer using restricted bridge and highway funds for one-time repairs where possible, while preserving long-term reserves for larger bridge projects and inspection reimbursements.

Ending: Officials said they expect to pursue a combination of supplier quotes, reallocation of restricted balances and state or federal grant matches to reopen the roads; they repeatedly noted the schedule for materials and installation will determine when closures can be lifted. “No permanent road closures is the plan,” one council member said as the session closed.","County officials and staff discussed options to reopen three closed roadways, including using restricted bridge funds, reallocating paving money and waiting on precast culvert deliveries. Officials said materials and scheduling — not only funding — are delaying repairs.","actionData","errors"]

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County, city and EMS leaders discuss options as Newcastle seeks larger payment for county ambulance coverage

Henry County health director warns of large cut to Health First funding; department may reduce staff

Henry County leaders weigh shifting road, culvert and bridge funds as three roads remain closed